@ashleygotgame? How an under-the-radar Effingham County football star is getting notice

Donald Heath
·3 min read

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SPRINGFIELD – Effingham County’s football season wasn’t 15 minutes old before the impact of Rebels' senior safety Ashley Thompson was felt.

The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder’s shoulder-to-shoulder hit on a Richmond Hill tight end, who had just caught a pass, looked like something you’d see on Sunday. The collision dislodged the ball and left the receiver, then in a woozy state of ‘did anyone get the license plate of that truck?’ crumpled on the ground.

Internet site Recruit Georgia showed a replay of the hit among its high school plays of the week.

“It’s actually fun hitting people,” said Thompson with a smile that seems to offer a ‘nothing personal’ apology to recipients of his blows.

“You make that big play and it changes the game,” he said. “When you feel the momentum shift, it’s one of the best feelings in the game in my opinion.”

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Safety Ashley Thompson has been a leader in Effingham County's defense, which is allowing 14 points a game.
Safety Ashley Thompson has been a leader in Effingham County's defense, which is allowing 14 points a game.

A linchpin for the Rebels' defense

ECHS has relied on a staunch defense for its football renaissance in recent years. The Rebels gave up 10 fewer points per game (from 28 to 18) in 2021 while upping their win total from three (in 2020) to six.

Through eight games this season, the defense has allowed 14 points a game and the team’s six-game winning streak has equaled its best since 2002.

And Thompson has been the leader.

“You can put him in the box (close to the line of scrimmage to stop the run) or you can put him in center field (to defend the deep pass) or anywhere in between,” Rebels coach John Ford said. “His versatility allows us to do a lot of different things on defense.”

Ford can go on and on about Thompson, who also sees time as a slot receiver in the spread attack, plays the safety valve on kickoffs and occasionally returns punts. Thompson has 4.56 speed in the 40-yard dash and power cleans 300 pounds.

He had one of his best statistical games on Oct. 7 against Grovetown, registering 10 tackles and a touchdown catch.

Senior Ashley Thompson helps anchor the Rebels' secondary. The team has won six straight games.
Senior Ashley Thompson helps anchor the Rebels' secondary. The team has won six straight games.

Thompson is a starter on the basketball team and doesn’t mind mixing it up under the boards as an undersized forward.

He was a first-team All-Region 2-6A performer in football and earned second-team all-region accolades in basketball.

And he sports a 4.0 grade-point average.

“I think he’s super underrated and I don’t know why,” Ford said.

Underappreciated among college recruiters

Self promotion can’t be the reason. Thompson wears No. 1 and his Twitter account is “Ashleygotgame”.

So far, his only collegiate offer has been Air Force.

More: Effingham Co. extends football win streak. Why the Rebels are surging in region play.

“I might get more offers as the season goes on, but right now Air Force is a serious consideration,” he said. “They give you a lot of options after you finish school.”

For now, Thompson doesn’t mind sharing the Friday night spotlight with friends and highly regarded teammates Keion Wallace and Timmy Brown. All three play in the secondary and rotate at wide receiver.

“I’ve been playing football since I was 6 and me and Keion played on the same youth teams,” Thompson said. “That’s what I like about football, the brotherhood.”

Winning is right up there too. The Rebels came within three points of capturing a region title last season while advancing to the state tournament for the first time since 2018.

ECHS began this season with losses to Richmond Hill and Burke County but turned things around with five straight victories.

High expectations have returned.

“The season started off poorly, but we’re on a roll,” Thompson said. “The defense has been doing its thing and the offense has stepped up the scoring. I just want to win, get region (championship), get to the playoffs and hopefully make something happen.”

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Thompson sets tone for Effingham County high school football defense